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Having wasps in Toronto?

It’s nearing the end of summer, and you and your family are enjoying every last minute outside. From neighbourhood BBQ’s to family dinners on the back deck, there always seem to be some uninvited guests. You hear the buzzing, but was it a wasp or a bee?

Generally speaking, wasps are most likely the ones crashing your end of summer parties in Toronto, Etobicoke, Oakville and the surrounding areas. Bees are too focused on flowers to stop by your patio for dinner, while wasps love to feed on human food.

But their diet isn’t the only thing that sets bees and wasps apart.

Their Anatomy

If you’re able, and brave enough, to get close to the buzzing, you’ll be able to notice some of the finer details of the insect. Wasps boast a smooth, slender body with a tiny waist. Bumblebees on the other hand, have a much bigger body, appear furry and have flat, hairy legs. While honey bees also boast a slimmer body, they share some of the same furry characteristics of the bumble bee. Bees are focused on pollenating, while wasps are not, and the physical characteristics of a bee help them to carry pollen.

If you can’t get close enough to see the insect, you might have a better chance examining its home.

Their Home

Wasps build a paper like nest, from their own saliva and chewed up fibers. These grey, papery nests can usually be found in hidden places, such as under a deck, in a garden shed, in between tree branches and even in cracks and crevices in your home. Wasps have even been known to make their home in bathroom fans. Holes in trees, buildings or even the ground are just a few of the places a bee may call home. Honey bees however, build their nests above ground, by creating and stacking wax cells, known as a honey comb.

Their Stinger

If you have been unlucky enough to have been stung, this can also give you insight into whether it was a wasp or a bee. Bumblebees and wasps are capable of stinging more than once. Wasps tend to be more aggressive, and won’t hesitate to use their stingers. Bumblebees, along with honey bees are more docile, and won’t sting unless they are provoked, or trying to protect their hive. Honey bees have a serrated stinger, which gets stuck when they sting, causing the honeybee to eventually die.

Although bumblebees produce honey, it’s in much smaller quantities than what honeybees are able to produce. Honeybees play an important part in the ecosystem, and it’s important to protect them. Knowing the difference between a bee and a wasp can make a huge difference.

Whether its bees, hornets, wasps or yellow jackets crashing your backyard, our experts are well equipped to provide high quality pest control in Toronto, Etobicoke, Oakville and the surrounding GTA.

If you suspect honeybees on your property, we are experts in removing and relocating these protected species off your property and into the capable hands of a beekeeper.

Learn more about our honey bee removal in the GTA and surrounding areas by clicking here.